Veteran Steals Thunder of Player Protesting National Anthem

After NFL star Colin Kaepernick got attention for sitting in silent protest during the National Anthem, he got a lot of backlash. He got a lot of support, as well, with other NFL players joining in his protest. One soccer player tried to stand (or not stand) in solidarity during the Star Spangled Banner before a game, but the ball club wasn't having it.

U.S. Women's Soccer Team player Megan Rapinoe took a knee during the National Anthem to join in Kaepernick's protest. As her fellow players stood with their hands on their hearts, Rapinoe kneeled quietly.

Rapinoe told ESPN that she planned to keep the protest going. "Being gay, I have stood with my hand over my heart during the National Anthem and felt like I haven't had my liberties protected, so I can absolutely sympathize with that feeling."

The Washington Spirit soccer club decided they weren't going to give protesters the opportunity to upset fans and distract from the game. They cut Rapinoe's plans to continue her protest with one swift action: they played the National Anthem before the players took the field.

"To willingly allow anyone to hijack this tradition that means so much to millions of Americans and so many of our own fans for any cause would effectively be just as disrespectful as doing it ourselves," Washington Spirit said in a statement.

"It was incredibly distasteful, four days before one of the worst tragedies in our country, to say that I tried to hijack this event," said an outraged Rapinoe. "…It’s just really disappointing and disrespectful.
We want to talk about disrespect, and me disrespecting, he didn’t even give both teams a chance to even stand in front of it and show their respects. It’s unbelievable. It’s truly an unbelievable act to me."